We've moved from Baltimore, Maryland USA to Venice, Italy in pursuit of living our dream!

Saturday, September 11, 2010

Yes, there was just a hole in the ground!!!

I happened across this "toilet" the other day and just could not resist snapping a photo and putting it here on my blog. Yes, you have heard about them. This is living proof. Is there a name for these things??

I don't come across too many of this type of bathroom facility, more commonly I find the one's that have a little low bowl and no toilet seat at all. The range of toilets here never ceases to amaze me! I would think that in the country that is home to the Lambourgini and Ferrari, and top designers in fashion, furniture and architecture, not to mention marble, that there would certainly be top of the line toilets everywhere.

There's been a project brewing in the back of my mind lately- I think Venice needs a map which identifies restaurants with good or bad toilet facilities. Who has a bowl, who doesn't have a seat, those kind of details. I think this could be a very useful tool for tourists.

Thanks, Fabrizio! I thought it was something like a Turkish toilet! I'm up for a collaboration on the best and worst of toilet facilities anytime. Fortunately, I have not come across any of these holes here in Venice.. yet! Dove sei? - Karen

Never encountered one of these in my 3 trips to Venice, but did in Verona, in a restaurant, and a public toilet at a antiquities site that I cannot remember. I am so glad when you are posting as it connects me to the place I love the most.

You can find a lot of these "Turkish" toilets in old bistro's in Paris. I hated them when I lived there and made every effort to avoid them. My guess why new spiffy toilets don't' arrive on the scene is that Europeans are generally frugal and if it works, why fix it, but we KNOW it does not work when you don't want to ever use it but as the French say "C'est la vie!" I guess no one in either the Italian or French toilet police is asking for my opinion . And I think that a book featuring the best and worst toilets would be something that would sell big time!

Dear Karen: Did they change the loo at Gianni's when they renovated? I vote the best one is at Alla Testiere.Interesting that you give your dog Rimadyl. It is really expensive in the US (over $25 for a month's supply) - what does it cost in Venice?As for the pronunciation, Romance languages have fixed rules about pronunciation - a combination of consonants and vowels always has the same sound, unlike English. Growing up in England I pronounced the first syllable of vitamin to rhyme with bit. The first time I tried to buy some in the US, they didn't know what I was talking about because over here it rhymes with bite.You could try the faculty on the Zattere for a student who could drum Italian phonetics into you.Ciao, Jane

Jane- great idea on checking with the faculty over on the Zattere. I will do that!Gianni's must have renovated because the facilities there are very nice.Mi piace Gianni's!! My favorite so far are at Muro near the Frari. Wow! Beautiful Italian marble, tile, glass, it's very upscale!!Rimadyl costs 18.38Euros for 28 tablets, so probably about what you paid. You know my area well! I live between C. Santa Margharita and P. Roma. Grazie!!

Nothing to do with this particular post. Just wanted to let you know that I am back in Venice and want to make arrangements to have a coffee together if possible. I have sent an email to your info address. By the way, I had your glass guy Mario Vianello make a springer spaniel for me. I pick it up today.Dianne Shanley

In France this type of toilet is fairly common and once i've encountered one in Ethiopia, but not (i repeat: not) glazed and without a water flush.A real hole in the ground is heaven compared with that last one!